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Bus operator expanded too quickly
Page 32
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• A South Wales bus operator, Mr Douglas E. James, of Aberdare, was told that he tried to expand his business too fast, when he appeared before the South Wales Traffic Commissioners in Cardiff over the condition of his fleet. Mr James holds licences for three express carriage services and has three minibuses and two coaches.
Mr. J. H. Chard, for the DoE, said that there had been several notices of suspension and one conviction at the Aberdare magistrates' court. Mr James had no maintenance facilities of his own, his vehicles were parked on the side of the road and repairs were carried out in a lane.
Appearing for Mr James, Mr Rosser John said he had a garage large enough for the minibuses and had employed a full-time fitter for two years; although land had been bought to build a garage, planning permission had not been granted until November 1972. By that time Mr James had spent so much on buses and repairs that he had insufficient money to go on with the building.
Mr James told the Commissioners that he had now entered into a contract with a garage to maintain his vehicles and they would all be serviced every 4000 miles or monthly. He said he had spent more than £3000 on parts and maintenance.
Mr Rosser John said Mr James was in great difficulties but hoped the Commissioners did not have to say he was an unfit person. "He started with minibuses and he has gone too fast and cannot cope with larger buses. But it looks in future that these buses will be kept in better condition. He had put his house and everything into the business and it would be much too severe to say he is an unfit person to hold a licence," said Mr John. He asked the Commissioners to allow him to carry on.
The chairman of the Commissioners, Mr Ronald R. Jackson, said this was a very fair summing up; Mr James had started in a small way and expanded too fast. "But I cannot overlook the enormous number of delayed and immediate prohibitions over a short period and I also take a very serious view of the conviction."
Mr James received a suspension of one vehicle for three months and was told that during that period any applications for additional licences would be heard at a public inquiry and any subsequent hearings would also be in public until such time that they were satisfied that the vehicles were being properly maintained.